Menopause and out of shape ( with pics ☹️)

[Sallysister68]

I am 56 and went through the menopause last year. I feel completely out of shape, I’m 5ft 2 and 8st now. I have put on about half a stone in the last year and can’t seem to get rid of it.
Can anyone offer advice? I eat a very healthy diet and walk a lot but have never been a gym person.

You look lovely! And I like that lingerie set!

Out of shape..........? 🙄FGS.

@Sallysister68 can I suggest the reverse Pilates plan. It’s 20 mins a day, I only do the exercise but there is a diet as well. The Pilates is for peri / menopausal woman. I feel so much better and I’m starting to look better too! I put on 5kg overnight due to peri, it definitely shook me.

It's all very "look at me, aren't I fat" when they know perfectly well they aren't.

Start taking calcium with vit D . I brought chewable ones from Holland and Barrett and they are advised when peri starts. My mum and nan both have osteoarthritis ( well my nan till but sadly has passed). So I don’t want to take chances plus eating more calcium, kefir, whole milk ect.

I was similar to you last year, not overweight but wanted to be more toned. A combination of Pilates, and a regular PT session has really changed my shape and made me stronger with better posture. It’s taken work but is so rewarding as I feel so much better.

Stop giving OP a row. She says she is "feeling out of shape". This isn't a judgement on anybody else. She is allowed to feel out of shape for her at any weight/shape she wants to, and it is absolutely the best thing to do to tackle a small change than to wait for it to become a big uphill struggle a year from now.

Carrying weight around your middle and having no defined waistline is what happens during menopause unfortunately. Your arms just need toning up, weight training would make a huge difference to how you look.

You just to build some muscle through weight training. Not only will this make you look more toned, it will burn the fat on your stomach. However, and at the same time, during menopause, our fat distribution changes onto our middle as the fat cells in this area produce oestrogen. Again, weight training will help with this.

No, it really isn't the case at all. If OP has always been used to being a certain size/looking a certain way, then I'm not surprised gaining a little weight has thrown her off. One of the killers of menopause is losing your sense of self, not least because of even just a little weight gain.

Was in a similar position to OP. The only difference is that I knew to do some heavy weight lifting rather than post on MN.

I think Aqua aerobics is good, in my class it’s mostly women aged from early 40’s to mid 70’s and nearly all of them have really small waists. We do a lot of twisting and exercises using our tummy muscles which seems to help.

you are 56, 5ft 2 and 8 stone

Please do not fucking (apologies for swearing) do this to yourself, what on earth do you want to get rid of?

Yourself? do you want to evaporate? Are you not worthy to walk this earth because you are 8 stone OMG Sally, the absolute horror?

What exactly is troubling you?

😂 😂
Agreed, OP looks amazing !

Goodness, what must you think of your larger friends??!

@pearbottomjeans I don’t judge anyone, I never have. I just don’t feel good about myself after the menopause.

@Sallysister68 I know what you mean, body shape does change with age, even if our weight stays the same. Strength/resistance training really does make a difference and it's great for protection for future age related problems. I'm 5 years older than you, same height/weight. I lift weights regularly and still have a bit of upper body definition. Still hate my thighs through! I can't quite the source correctly, but once heard a brilliant podcast on strength training for women which basically said "instead of minimising yourself by becoming as slim as possible you can build yourself with training" .

You make no sense with your comment !
lots of us may not be happy with ourselves & want to improve & what’s wrong with that ?
Doesn’t mean we judge our friends or whoever else .. Each to their own .

Just use some light weights for muscle tone and strength. We lose a lot of tone during menopause. It'll stand you in good stead for the future.

Stealth boast?

It’s very clear op doesn’t feel herself, doesn’t feel comfortable in her new body shape. Plus the change in hormones, so that’s what’s the matter and it’s valid.
If I posted similar pics to op they would prob get some of the responses on here that aren’t supportive. I have gone up to a size 8 from a 6 … some jeans I’ll never fit into again. But for some size 8 and under 8 stone would be ideal but not for me. I even got fat shamed a few weeks ago out at dinner with extended family. My sils mum told my mum in our native tongue that I had put on weight and my mum agreed even though prior to that I’d said to both I was in the midst of peri. It didn’t feel good :(

@Sallysister68 I found the inspirational quote. Jessica Fostekew "Sturdy Girls Club" Series 1. Strongwoman Maya says "How much more can I do, not how much less can I be".

What exercise do you do?

Your body is perfectly fine you just need to tone up. Your post does come across as attention seeking.

@AnonAnonmystery

"It’s very clear op doesn’t feel herself"

I absolutely did recognise that Anon.

It's just that, to me, we put so much pressure on ourselves.

I hate the thought that @Sallysister68 feels miserable in her own skin. 😢

for those asking how to find out your bone density, search Dexa scan near me on google and you should get clinics that offer that service, in London they’re around £125.